Y1 – Mouse Control Skills

The Year 1 topic this term is ‘Let’s Create’.  We will be creating some simple images and drawings using our new Purple Mash learning environment applications.  Y1 will begin to explore digital texts, using varied devices and software to create digital content. They will investigate differences between input and output and hardware and software and will explore the idea of a network related to computers at home and school, logging on to their area with support.

Being able to control the mouse on a computer is easy for older children and adults.  However, if you have never used one before it can be a tricky skill to master.  Year 1 children have been practicing their mouse control skills this week, developing their hand eye control and understanding of clicking and dragging objects on the screen.  This is an essential skill for computing and one that is slowly being lost as we move towards ‘swiping’ on phones and tablets.

If you wish to support your child in developing their mouse control skills at home the links to online mouse control games below should help:

https://www.abcmouse.com/email/mouse-and-pointer

http://primarygamesarena.com/Topics/Mouse-Control

http://bomomo.com/

We have also used a free painting tool called Tux Paint to help with mouse control.  You can download this great free piece of software from http://www.tuxpaint.org/